London, 16 September. The Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) today welcomed the Government’s announcement backing nuclear energy as a key pillar of the UK’s future energy strategy and supporting collaboration between the US and UK.
The announcement includes:
• New investments in Sizewell C, giving the project the green light and supporting 10,000 jobs at peak construction.
• A commitment to accelerate the delivery of US-UK Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) projects, including a deal between X-Energy and Centrica to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, with a follow-on UK wide programme targeting a fleet of 6 GW.
• Enhancing UK and US collaboration by fast-tracking the approvals process. Under the deal, if a reactor has already passed rigorous safety checks in one country, this work can be used by the other to support its assessment, avoiding duplication. This is expected to speed up the time it takes for a nuclear project to get a licence from roughly three or four years to roughly two.
Lord Mackinlay, GWPF Director, said:
This is an important step in the right direction. Nuclear power is one of the few reliable, low-carbon energy sources capable of delivering secure, affordable electricity at scale. Unlike intermittent renewables, nuclear can provide the firm capacity needed to keep the lights on and industry running.”
The GWPF has long argued that energy policy should prioritise affordability and security of supply, over an approach that had focussed overwhelmingly on building new renewable capacity. With much of the UK’s existing nuclear fleet due to retire in the coming decade, investment in new capacity is essential to avoid the disappearance of this vital technology.
“Finally, there is cause to be excited about the UK’s nuclear programme,” said Harry Wilkinson, GWPF Head of Policy. “These announcements are hugely encouraging, but we can go even further. More needs to be done to create a friendlier regulatory and planning environment for nuclear in the UK.”
The Foundation also urged the Government to ensure that financing mechanisms for new nuclear plants deliver value for money for households and businesses, while supporting innovation in next-generation technologies.
Contact: harry.wilkinson@thegwpf.org